Loom protector mechanism



6, 1969 e s. ROBINSON ETAL 3,463,201

LOOM PROTECTOR MEGHANI SM Filed Jan. 11, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN v E NT 0R5 some; sRoamsoN ROBERTWANDERSON JR.

ATTORNEY G. s. ROBINSON ETAL 3,463,201

Aug. 26, 1969 v LOOM PROTECTOR MECHANI SM Filed Jan. 11. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V E N T 0 Rs GORDON snoamsou ROBERT W. ANDERSON JR.

ATTORNEY 6, 1969 e. s. ROBINSON ETAL 3,463,201

LOOM PROTECTOR MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 11, 1968 INVENTORS [QM [1M ATTORNEY N N 0 2 m M; 8 W N T 0 mm R B O O G R United States Patent O US. Cl. 139346 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A protector mechanism for looms powered by clutchbrake type transmitters in which on indication for bangoff, the transmitter is released to braking position prior to engagement of fixed dagger fingers with controlled pivotable abutments carried in the looms slidable frogs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a protector mechanism for looms of the fiy-shuttle type and in particular to an improved means for dissipating the forces created at socalled loom bang-off.

A known form of protector mechanism in common use for fly-shuttle looms is that of the protector rod type having dagger fingers at each end thereof .which are adapted to engage abutments or so-called steel pieces carried in slidable frogs. With this mechanism the protector rod cooperates with spring biased fingers which rotate the protector rod, when the shuttle is properly boxed, a sufiicient degree so as to lift the dagger fingers to clear the steel pieces. With an improperly boxed shuttle, the spring biased fingers fail to rotate the protector rod and the dagger fingers are caused to engage the steel pieces which brings the loom to an abrupt stop.

Present day fly-shuttle looms are designed to operate at greater speeds and with improvements in design as Well as added mechanisms to these looms, the forces of inertia are substantially increased when stopping a loom by the protector mechanism. This condition has been responsible for such complaints as the lay moving beyond its desired stopping position as well as breakage of various loom elements.

The loom protector mechanism according to the instant invention provides an improved and novel means for dissipating the forces created at loom bang-off by taking up the initial forces through the braking portion of the loom motor and the remaining through the combination of said motor and engagement of the dagger fingers with pivotable abutments carried in the frogs.

A loom protector mechanism which is adapted to distribute the forces created during a loom bang-off is shown and described in US. patent application Ser. No. 608,143, filed I an. 9, 1967, and now Patent No. 3,404,709.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The loom protector mechanism of the present invention includes pivotable lever members which function in cooperation with the shuttle box binders to sense the presence and absence of a shuttle. These levers are mechanically linked to pawl members which are caused to pivot and avoid contact with pivotable bell crank levers when a shuttle is properly received into the shuttle box. In the event of an improperly boxed or late shuttle the pawls are not moved in time to avoid contact with the bell crank levers causing the latter to pivot.

One end of the bell crank lever on the drive side of the loom is mechanically linked to the loom motor and the other end to a crank lever forming a part of a pivotable abutment carried in a slida-ble frog. With the initial movement of the bell crank lever the linkage to the motor is actuated and releases the latter to braking position. Further movement of the bell crank lever actuates the linkage to the pivotable abutment and elevates the latter to a position to be engaged by the dagger finger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the righthand side of a loom showing the mechanism according to the invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the left-hand side of the loom showing the means for elevating the pivotable abutment on that side of the loom to a position for engaging the dagger finger;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the means for elevating the pivotable abutment on the right-hand side of the loom;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the elements in FIG. 3 showing the position of the pivotable abutment during normal loom operation;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 and partially in section showing the position of the various elements, of the invention when the shuttle is properly boxed; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the pawls are interconnected and caused to function in unison.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the figures of drawing, FIG. 1 shows a part of the right-hand loom frame at 10 and in FIG. 5 a part of the left-hand loom frame at 11.

A lay beam 12 is shown in FIG. 6 which is adapted to extend across the Width of the loom and is supported for swinging movement by right and left-hand swords that are identified by numerals 13 and 14, respectively.

In FIG. 6 the looms rocker shaft is shown at 15 and serves to support the swords in a known manner. The ends of the rocker shaft 15 are journaled in aligned bearing members (not shown) which are assembled in the lower portion of each loom frame.

In FIG. 1 the loom motor which is of the clutch-brake type is identified by numeral 16. This motor is fixedly attached to a motor stand 17 which by any suitable means (not shown) is assembled to the loom frame 10.

The loom motor 16 is provided with the usual operating lever 18 and as is known by those conversant in the art it is pivoted in one direction to engage the driving clutch thereof and when released from that position a biasing force pivots it in the opposite direction for engagement with the brake portion.

The loom protector mechanism of the present invention functions in cooperation with a quick release apparatus which forms a part of the loom motors operating lever 18 and is shown and fully described in US. patent application 589,285, filed Oct. 25, 1966, now abandoned. In FIG. 1 the release latch and lever which form a part of the quick release mechanism are identified by numerals 19 and 20, respectively.

The lay beam 12 includes shuttle boxes on the upper end surfaces thereof which are adapted to receive a shuttle 21 (FIG. 5) as it is picked back and forth across said lay. The shuttle boxes being disposed in opposed relation are more or less of the same basic design and as shown by the left-hand box in FIG. 5 they include such elements as a lay end 22, front box plate 23, back box plate 24 and a binder 25. A part of the right-hand shuttle box is shown in FIG. 1 and the similar components thereof are identified by corresponding numerals with the addition of a prime.

The frogs are of the slidable type and are assembled in a known manner on each loom frame and 11. In FIG. 1 the right-hand frog is shown at 26 and in FIG. 5 the left-hand at 27. Both frogs function in unison during the performance of their intended function and being basically alike it is only necessary here to identify and describe one of said frogs. Attention is therefore directed to the right-hand frog 26.

This frog is provided with a pivotable abutment or socalled steel piece 28 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) and it is positioned within a pocket 29 formed on the upper surface and intermediate the ends of said frog. A crank lever 30 extends through and beyond each side of the pivotable abutment 28 and serves to support said abutment within the pocket 29. Those portions of the crank lever immediately adjacent to the pivotable abutment are journaledin aligned apertures provided in the sides of the pocket 29. One end of the crank lever 30 extends outwardly beyond the side of the frog 26 and is directed at an angle normal to the longitudinal extent of said lever thereby forming a crank element which in a manner to be described provides the means for pivoting the pivotable abutment to dagger finger engaging position.

The dagger finger is depicted by numeral 31 and being of the fixed type it assembles to the sword immediately below the lay 12 by means of bolts 32 (one only shown in FIG. 3). The dagger finger extends forwardly from its point of attachment to the sword and is adapted to move with the latter above and in close proximity with the upper central surface of the frog.

The sensing means for determining the presence or absence of a shuttle in the shuttle box includes a double armed lever generally indicated by numeral 33 which is pivotably mounted intermediate its ends to a support bracket 34 that is assembled to the back of the lay 12 by means of cap screws 35 (one only shown in FIGS. 1 and 3).

The various elements of the sensing means thus far described are those which function in cooperation with the right-hand shuttle box; however, FIGS. 2 and 4 show a portion of the left-hand shuttle box along with sensing elements of like configuration and which function in a like manner.

Accordingly, the one on the left-hand side will be given identification numerals corresponding to the righthand but with the addition of primes.

Lever 33 has an upper arm 36 in which there is assembled a generally horizontally disposed adjustable bolt 37. This bolt is adjustable longitudinally in arm 36 by means of a lock nut 38 and the head thereof is positioned for engagement with the rear side of the binder 25'. A coil spring 39 provides a biasing force for continually urging bolt 37 intocontact with the binder 25' and is assembled on the shank portion of said bolt intermediate the upper end of support bracket 34 and the rear side of the upper arm 36. As a shuttle enters the shuttle box, binder 25' is pivoted rearwardly and being in contact with bolt 37 the double armed lever 33 is pivoted in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3. As the shuttle is picked from the shuttle box the expansion of coil spring 39 pivots the lever 33 in the opposite direction and the binder 25' is returned to its initial position.

The lower arm of lever 33 is identified by numeral 40 and has one end of an adjustable linkage rod 41 pivotably connected thereto. The opposite end of this linkage rod 41 defines an elongated opening 42 (FIG. 3) and by means of a bolt 43 said end is pivotably connected to a pivotable pawl generally indicated by numeral 44. This pivotable pawl includes a hub portion 45, an integrally formed actuating lever 46 to which the linkage rod 41 is connected and a rearwardly extending finger 47.

The left-hand pivotable pawl is identified by numerals similar to the right-hand but with the addition of primes and both pawls are fixed to the ends of a common sup- 4 port rod 48 (FIGS. 1 and 6). The support rod 48 traverses the width of the loom and is supported for oscillating movement in suitable bearing members fixed to the underside of the lay such as 49 and 50 shown in FIG. 6. This support rod is also supported adjacent its ends in aligned apertures (not shown) provided in the base portions of the dagger fingers 31 and 31'.

Being fixed to the support rod 48 both pivotable pawls 44 and 44 are caused to pivot in unison by the pivoting motion of either the right or lefthand double armed levers 33 and 33. Only one of the double armed levers 33 or 33' need be pivoted to affect movement of both the pawls. When one is caused to pivot the other remains fixed due to its connection with the linkage rods 41 and 41' which include elongated openings 42 and 42 on the ends which are pivotably connected to the actuating lever of the pawls. These openings permit bolts 43 and 43 forming the pivotable connections to move within the limits thereof before the affected double armed lever can effect movement of its respective pawl.

When a shuttle is properly received into the shuttle box the binder thereof is pivoted rearwardly in a known manner and the double armed lever cooperating therewith is pivoted causing its linkage rod to pivot the pawls 44 and 44 to a position where they avoid contact with lever members which when pivoted effect loom stoppage. The right-hand lever is of the bell crank type and is identified generally by numeral 51 (FIGS. 1 and 3). This lever is pivotably supported intermediate its ends to a mounting bracket 52 by means of a bolt 53 and said mounting bracket attaches to the side of the loom frame 10 by means of bolts 54.

Lever 51 includes a lower arm 55 and an upper arm 56 the top portion of which is bifurcated with one stem forming an abutment 57 and the other a means for interconnecting the linkage to the motors quick release mechanism that will be more fully described hereinafter.

The lower arm 55 of the lever 51 has one end of a coil spring 58 of the helical extension type attached thereto as at 59 and the opposite end is connected to the crank lever 30 as at 60.

A coil spring 61 continually urges lever 51 into contact with an adjustable stop screw 62 which assembles in a protruding lug 63 that forms a part of the mounting bracket 52. One end of this spring is attached to the inner end of a fixed stud 64 carried by the lever 51 and the opposite end is attached to a spring bracket 65 which is fixed to said mounting bracket by means of the stop screw 62.

The lever on the' left side of the loom which functions in a similar manner to lever 51 on the right-hand side being basically the same except for a linkage connection to the loom motor is identified, along with its cooperating components, by corresponding numerals with the addition of primes.

Referring to FIG. 1, the linkage to the motors quick release mechanism includes a linkage rod 66 one end of which is pivotably connected to lever 51 as at 67. The opposite end of this linkage rod 66 is pivotably attached to one end of a horizontally disposed arm 68. The other end of arm 68 is fixedly attached to the upper end of a shaft '69 journaled in a cylindrical housing 70 having opposed bolting flanges 71 and 72 extending laterally therefrom. Housing 70 assembles to the loom frame 10 by any suitable means such as bolts 73 (the head of one only shown in FIG. 1).

The lower end of shaft 69 is provided with a fixed collar 74 having an integrally formed and laterally extending lug 75 extending therefrom to which one end of a release rod 76 is pivotably attached.

In operation, the lay beam is swung to and fro in a conventional and well known manner as the shuttle is caused to travel to and from the shuttle boxes forming the ends of said lay.

When a shuttle is properly received into a shuttle box the binder thereof is pivoted rearwardly and the upper arm of the double armed lever 33 or 33' cooperating therewith is pivoted in a like manner. This motion is transmitted through the lower arm of the double armed lever to the linkage rod 41 or 41 which in turn pivots the pawls 44 and 44 a distance sufiicient to elevate their fingers to clear the abutments 57 and 57 on the upper end of levers 51 and 51'.

The above movements occur during the forward motion of the lay and should the pawls fail to be pivoted as a result of an improperly boxed shuttle, their fingers 47 and 47 engage the abutments 57 and 57' and pivot the upper portions of levers 51 and 51 in a forwardly direction.

Levers 51 and 51' are pivoted simultaneously and the lower arms 55 and 55' thereof pivot in a downwardly direction and through their connections With crank levers 30 and 30' the pivotable abutments 28 and 28 are pivoted to a position for engagement with their respective dagger fingers 31 and 31'. Just before the lay has traveled far enough to enable the dagger fingers to engage the pivotable abutments, lever 51 will have moved linkage rod 66 a distance sufiicient to release the loom motor to braking position.

With this means for stopping a loom the initial forces are taken up by the braking portion of the loom motor and the remaining forces through the combination of said motor and engagement of the dagger fingers with their respective pivotable abutments.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a loom having a clutch-brake motor, a lay, opposed shuttle boxes at the ends of said lay and pivotable binder members forming a part of each shuttle box for arresting the flight of a shuttle as it is received therein, rockable sword members disposed in spaced relation for supporting said lay, a loom protector mechanism comprismg:

(a) fixed daggers attached to and movable with said sword members,

(b) slidable frog members having pivotable abutments supported therein,

(c) a crank lever forming a part of each pivotable abutment,

(d) sensing means including a lever member and a cooperating pivotable pawl, said lever member being pivotably attached to said lay and having one end thereof in contact with said binder and the opposite end linked to said pawl, and

(e) a further means adapted to be influenced by said pawl for elevating said pivotable abutment upon indication of improper shuttle boxing from a non-interfering to a dagger engaging position.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said pivotable pawls are caused to move in unison and include a support rod disposed below said lay which extends longitudinally therewith.

3. The mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said further means comprises a pivotable bell crank lever having control linkages connected to each end thereof, one of which is mechanically linked to said motor the other to said crank lever.

4. The mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said pivotable bell crank lever includes an integrally formed abutment adapted to be engaged by said pawl to pivot said bell crank lever to a position whereby said control linkages are activated to release said motor to braking position and elevate said pivotable abutment to dagger engaging position.

5. The mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said bell crank levers linkage to said crank lever defines a spring element adapted to move said pivotable abutment between dagger finger engaging and non-engaging positions and to dissipate the forces created by excessive pivotal movement of said bell crank lever.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 847,653 3/1907 Cunniff 139346 3,404,709 10/1968 Budzyna et a1. 139-346 FOREIGN PATENTS 659,642 2/ 1929 France.

HENRY S. JAUDON, Primary Examiner 

